Welcome to the PhotoMommas Blog!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you are able to catch a glimpse of the love I have for photography, but even more so, the love I have for my little family. Life comes and goes too quickly to not capture it. Take a look around and hopefully you will find something that inspires you to capture your family today to cherish forever. I look forward to hearing from you...

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Hurry…It’s a contest!!

I am a HUGE believer that we, as moms (or whoever you are), need to be in some of the pictures we take. Even though there are times when I look like a “mom” (hair in pony tail, hoodie, grunge pants, no make-up, etc) and don’t believe that I should be in a picture, I realize that Gabe and Claire love me for who I am…not for who I am not. So, I am forcing myself to hold the camera out, bring the kids in for a tight squeeze, and capture their lives with me (and Jeremy, of course) in it. Years from now those moments will be appreciated much more than I can fathom right now.

So, while the weather is pleasant…tomorrow is going to be even more AMAZING!…grab your camera, head outdoors with your little ones, hold out that camera (or set the timer/stand in front of a mirror) and snap a picture with your little ones. Do not get yourselves dressed up! ;) Don’t make me look bad…ha! Just kidding!

I would LOVE to see you get creative with this…swing sets, running, tickling, reading a book…the beautiful blue sky I’m seeing is the limit. If this time frame doesn’t work for you…no worries. You are still included! It can be a picture that someone else took of you with your little ones or an image you have had for a while. The challenge is for you to capture yourself in a picture with your little ones.

This is going to be a quick contest. All entries need to be in by next Thursday, April 1. Email them to: cpd@carpenterpd.com. Have fun and I can’t wait to see what you come up with… Once I receive the images I will post them here and you guys will get to vote for the winner. I would highly encourage friends and family to vote as well.

My apologies for this post being all over the place, but this idea hit me quite suddenly and I am wanting to get outdoors with the kids!!! It’s kind of how I roll as a mom who happens to be a photographer…ok, that’s just how I roll. ;) I will post a few images that Gabe, Claire and I capture tomorrow and clarify with you what you could possibly win. I promise it will be good! xo

Gabe and I laughed trying to get this picture. I had the 50mm on…not the best lens to use when holding the camera on your own. We finally got it though…up close, but we got it!

***Edited to add***

Below are a few images from our fun-filled Saturday. Jeremy was helping his brother out for the day, so we made silly faces, jumped on the bed and had some mommy time. I am so glad that I took the time to do this and I hope you do as well. I can’t wait to see what you come up with…feel free to steal some of my ideas, if need be…and start sending them my way!

All images below were shot with the 24mm, ISO 500, 3.2, 1/160

It must be the fact that it is 1am…otherwise, this picture wouldn’t have made it on the blog!

So…what will the winner win? Well, one of my favorite things to do (other than the obvious) is teach. I taught for 5 years before we went full time with photography and I would love to help one of you out. The winner will receive a 2 hour advising session with me. I would love to meet with one of you…one on one and help you get to know your camera better. Maybe you need some help with a new program for your post-processing… Maybe you need help with how to back-up your files… Maybe you just want to step away from your home-life and grab some coffee…Whatever your questions/concerns, you will have my total attention for 2 hours. This contest is not limited to only those living in the Indy area. If you live outside of this area and happen to win…I will have something special just for you!!!!

Get those pictures in and encourage those around you to check this out. Remember you (and everyone you know) will be able to vote for your picture! I can’t wait to hang with one of you…

Shelly-I’m totally going to try to do this and send one in! Such a cute idea!March 31, 2010 – 12:05 am

Tara Richards-Love the pics of you and the kids! Great contest idea! Going to the bike path tomorrow with the girls…we’ll see what we come up with!March 29, 2010 – 11:22 pm

Dawn-how do we send you entries? (Not that I have any yet) March 26, 2010 – 11:12 am

Katie -Couldn’t help but notice the picture above your bed…looks strangely similar to the one you took of Jake and I except, of course, for the fact that it is of you and Jeremy March 23, 2010 – 11:32 am

Sherri -Hi there,

My friend hooked me up w/your site just last week. I’ve been browsing through it tonight, and it looks like a wealth of wonderful insight and knowledge you’re sharing with us. Thank you for that. I am 1/3 of the way through an into Photography course for SLR cameras, and I’m still very much overwhelmed with the information, and the features of my camera. I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to blog and help people like me along. I would love to join in the contest, but am still quite a ways away from that, plus I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada I look forward to seeing other people’s entries though.March 22, 2010 – 10:41 pm